Bowie’s nomination for British Male Solo Artist harks back to the golden generation of Britpop. A win would be akin to a Lifetime Achievement Award and, off the back of the success of his first album for ten years, the chart-topping The Next Day, it would be richly deserved.

4. A spread of winners

Unlike last week’s BAFTAs, where Gravity won six awards, the Brits has a more fragmented spread of nominations, meaning we’ll see an even spread of winners.

The Brits is fundamentally a celebration of the diversity, creativity and continuing success of British music, which continues to more than hold its own in the world. If that isn’t worth joining the party for, then what is?

Five reasons not to watch

1. James Corden – again

Nothing against the cheeky chappie, but this will be the fifth time Corden is presenting the show, and the fourth year in succession.

It’s time for fresh blood, and Corden himself has recognised this by stating this will be his last Brits.

2. A thin field: British Male Solo Artist

The five nominees for this category are: David Bowie, Jake Bugg, James Blake, John Newman and Tom Odell. While each can boast successful and critically acclaimed albums, they have hardly set the singles charts alight. Aside from Newman, the others mustered just two top 40 singles in 2013.

3. Will 1D be British Single of the Year?

The ten-strong shortlist contains six chart-topping tracks (the other four were all top five). But, seriously, One Direction’s One Way or Another?

Yes, 1D are immensely popular. Yes, it was done for Comic Relief. But it’s an awful cover version of a not particularly good Blondie song. Should the song win – and, given the band’s fanbase, it’s a strong possibility – it will sit alongside the equivalent 2014 Grammy Award winner: Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. Not much of a comparison, is it?

4. Too predictable

The show has increasingly lacked spontaneity in recent years, as its live presentation is stage-managed for a pre-watershed TV audience. Jarvis Cocker’s 1996 stage invasion during Michael Jackson’s performance of Earth Song, was one of the Brits’ most anarchic and memorable moments ever. (Fast forward to 5.10 on the video above). We won’t see its like again.

This predictability comes hand in hand with the need to show a respectable face to the music industry for the sponsors. There’s no mistaking the Brits are brought to us ‘in association with Mastercard’ countless times. Whatever happened to the good old days of rock ‘n’ roll?

The Brits is on ITV1 tonight at 8pm.

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